Pressure-responsive control means



April 16, 1949. COOPER 2,197,205

PRESSURE RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS 7 Filed Dec. 13, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ALUoo er, 2/ 7 April 16, 19406 A. L.. COOPER 2,197,205

PRESSURE RESPONSIVE CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec 13, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I AZ Umpex f fMW- A; L. COOPER PRESSURE RES-PONSIVE CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec. 13. 1937 3 sheetsesheet 5 Invenlm )4. L. Cooper.

fllforney I Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES 4 Claims.

automatically operable at certain-limits of such 7 variations to actuate apparatus operatively associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved pressure-responsive control means adjustable to automatically react at various limits of pressure variations for the actuation of associated apparatus. 1

"A further object of the invention is to provide improved pressure-responsive control means automatically operable at certain limits of an altitudinally-variable, pressure' balanced column I to actuate, regulate and control associated apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 improved pressure-responsive control means automatically operable through the interruption of.

light paths by an altitudinally-variable, pressure-balanced column to automatically actuate, regulate and control associated apparatus.

A further object of the invention istoprovide improved pressure-responsive control means wherein an altitudinally-variable, pressure-balanced column in intercepting relation with adjustably'associated light paths is employed to automatically actuate and control associated apparatus at certain limits of the column variation. i

'A further object of the invention is to provide improved pressure-responsive control'means that is positive, efiicient, and precise in operation, simple and durable, readily adjustable throughout a'rel'atively wide range of efiective operation, and which is adaptable to and for automatic control of a wide variety of specific mechanical assemblies and apparatus.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in" my claims, and

illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in

whichthrough the assembly shown in Figure 1. sure 3 is afragmentary, detail view; partlyin n employedwith the'invention.

PATENT OFFICE 1 Albert L. Cooper, Colorado Springs, (1010., as-

signor to Holly Sugar Corporation, -Colorado Springs, Col'0., .a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,550 1 Figurel is aside elevation of a preferred unitary assembly embodying the principles of my invention. Figure 2 is a vertical vsection axially F section, of latching and. positioning means employed with. an adjustable element of the assembly. Figure 4 a fragmentary, detail elevation of housing and shield means for a lightsensitiVe-element incorporated with the assembly. Figure 5 is a section taken on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail plan of an adjustable mounting advantageously employed with the invention.

Figure '7 is a cross section taken on the indicatedline ll ofFigure 2, certain elements of the assembly being broken away to conserve space. Figure 8 is a side: elevation of another type of adjustable -mounting advantageously In the construction of the improvement as shown, the elements of the-assembly are illustrated'as grouped. in operative interrelation on a suitable base l formed of any suitable material, such as metal, in any desired manner, and arrangedto be supported' on and infixed relation with a suitable horizontal element. Adjacentoneend of the. base ID, a suitable apertured fitting llslldi-ngly supports and vertically positions a threaded post [2 wherewith are threadedly engaged a pair of adjusting nuts l3-arranged to bear against. theupper end of the fi tting ll for 'altitudinal adjustment of the post 12,

relative to said fitting. A pressure chamber in the form of a closed cup M is carried by and in fixed relationxon the upper end of the post 12 for valtitudinal adjustment with said post, and communicates through a suitable pressure line orpipe I seated in the top of said chamber with a source or supply of fluid under pressure variations deriving from other apparatus, not shown, said chamber l4 being sealed from the atmosphere, except as hereinafter specified, so that the pressure acting within said chamber is atalltimesthe same as that transmitted thereto through the line [5.

Substantially centrally of the base Ill, a standard I6 is fixed-to and rises from said base in spacedyadjacent relation with the chamber I l and itssupporting elements, and an axial bore in the standard l6 communicates through a suitable fiexible conduit IT with the pressurechambe'r l4, oneend of the conduit I! being seated-in the lower end of. the standard l6 for registration with the bore of'said standard and the other end of said conduit engaging through the bottom of the chamber 14, so that pressures obtaining within said chamber are transmitted through said conduit and standard to a column assembly supported by the latter. The column assembly illustrated comprises four identical posts l8 fixed at their lower ends to the upper end of the standard l6 and rising therefrom in uniformly-spaced, parallel relation to engagement of their upper ends through a' cap plate 19. The posts l8 are so disposed as to define the corners of a square and each of said posts is provided with a ninety degree notch or groove extending.

throughout its length, said grooves being related one to the other so as to provide seats for plane glass plates 20 marginally engaging each other within said grooves to form an elongated transparent column of square cross section. YEI'he plates 26 are marginally sealed one to the other in any suitable or desired manner and bear at their opposite ends against suitable gaskets-2i adjacent the end of the standard 16 and the cap plate 19 so that pressure applied to the cap plate H] by means of nuts 22 threadedly engaging the upper ends of the posts l8 acts to firmly seat' the plates 20 against said gaskets and seal the column formed by said plates against escape of fluids or pressures therefrom. The cap plate I9 is provided with a central fitting 23 where,- through suitable channels 24 communicate between the interior of the column just described and the exterior atmosphere, the lowerend of said column communicating freely with the upper end of the bore in the standard l6, so that pressures transmitted through the line I5, chamber .l4, conduit Hand bore of thestandard l6 are conveyed to said columnand balanced-therein against atmospheric pressure through the channels 24. The chamber M acts as a reservoir for mercury, or similar heavy liquid, whichnaturally flows from said chamber to fill the conduit I I and bore of the standard I6 and enters the column defined by theplates 20 to a height determined by the pressure actingthroughthe line 15 on the surface of the liquid within the pressure chamber. When only atmospheric pressure is present in the line I5, it is obvious that the liquid in said chamber and in the ,col-

umn formed by the plates 20 will stand atthe' same level, and that altitudinal adjustment of the chamber [4 by means of the nuts I 3 will serve to vary the height of the liquid within the column, said nuts being provided and employed to adjust the height of the column liquid to coincidence with a zero mark or calibration adjacent the lower end of the column when only atmospheric pressures are present in the line 15. Further, it should be apparent that thearrangement shown and described provides for an increase in the columnliquid height when pres,- sures greater than atmospheric are transmitted through the line IE to the chamber I 4, such increases in the column liquid height being directly proportional to the increase above atmospheric of the pressures through the line I5 acting on the surface of the liquid in thechamber 14.

I-Iingedly mounted to swing in a vertical arc toward and away from the standard l6on a lug 25 rising from the base 16 adjacent the fixture II, a mounting bracket 26 is arranged to position and removably support a housing 21 enclosing a suitable light source, such as'an electric bulb 28. The housing 21 is formed with a light-directing hood 29 arranged to concentrate thelightfrom the bulb 28 toward and against one of the plates 20 adjacent the bottom of the column assembly, and the hinge mounting of the bracket 26 on the lug 25 is so arranged as to limit the range of movement of said bracket in one direction to a position such as will locate the axis of the hood 29 in perpendicular relation with the adjacent plate 20 of the column assembly and in substantial coincidence with the zero calibration of said assembly, while permitting the said bracket 26 and housing '21 carried thereby to be swung outwardly, at times, and away from the column assembly. The light source 28 is included in a suitable electriccircuit, indicated at 30, and is arranged to be continuously illuminated during operation of the control means and apparatus associated therewith. On the opposite side of the standard Hi from the light source just de- -scribed,.a lug 3i rising from the base it! supports a mounting bracket 32 wherein is removably carried a housing 33 formed with a hood 34 directed toward the column assembly, the construction and arrangement of the lug and-bracket elements 3! and 32 being substantially identical with that of the lug 25 and bracket 26, so that the housing 33 is normally positioned with its a hood element 34 axially aligned withand on the opposite side of the column assembly from the hood 29 ofthe housing 21, thus permitting light emanations from the source 28 through the hood 29 to traverse the transparent portion of the column assembly adjacent the zero calibration thereon and enter the hood 34 of the housing 33 when said column is unobstructed. The mounting of the bracket 32 permits the housing 33 to be swung away from'the column assembly, at times, in the same manner as above described for the housing 21. The housing 33 operatively mounts and encloses a light-sensitive element 35, such as a photoelectric or selenium cell, which element is operatively included in an electric circuit, indicated at 36, which includes elements of the apparatus to be controlled or actuated, the element 35 operating in the presence of light impinging thereon to close the circuit 36 to such apparatus and to open saidcircuit in the absence of light of intensity sufiicient to actuate said element. For precision in the functioning of the element 35, the light aperture of the hood 34 is preferably masked, as at 31, to obstruct that portion of the aperture above the horizontal plane defined by the zero calibration of the column assembly, in which case any rise of the mercury or other fluid within the column above the zero calibration will immediately obstruct the light path from the source 28 to the elementv 35 and thus automatically open the circuit 36 controlled by said element. With the arrangement shown and thus far described, it is apparent that when the chamber [4 is altitudinally adjusted to bring the liquid to the zero calibration of the column assembly and only atmospheric pressure is present in the line l5, light from the source 28 may and will traverse the column assembly at the zero calibration to energize the element 35and close the, circuit 36, and that as soon as pressures greater than atmospheric are received within the chamber M, the liquidin the column assembly will rise to intercept the light rays from the source 28 impinging upon the element 35 and permit opening of the circuit 36, thus affording means responsive to a lower pressure limit for automatically closing a circuit at such lower pressure limit and for automatically opening suchcircuit at pressures above such limit.

To Yadjustably mount and .ipositionzpmeans automatically responsiveto relatively higher pressures acting through the-line l5, aistandard138is fixed to thegbaset l and rises therefromgimspacejd parallel relation with the columnassemblmsaid standard being provided with marginal aguide flanges 39 011 that face adjacent the column assembly and so disposed as to form a T-slot'wherein are slidingly received the arms 40 of "a bracket carrier assemblyl l I The upper end ofthe standard 38supports a fixed head 42 wherein is rotatably supported one end of a'feedscrew 43 positioned in depending relation with said head between the guide flanges 39 and in intersectinglre lation with the head portion of the carrier assembly i i, said latterassembly being formed with athreaded bore in its head portion aligned with I and adapted for threaded engagement by the guided relation with the standard 38. The stem to open the circuit 53 and thereby initiate, re-

screw 43, whereby rotation of saidscrew-acts to raise or lower the assembly 4| along-and in its of the screw .43 is extended above the head '42 and fixedly engages with a crank'disc 44 whereon is mounted an actuatinghandle 45 for convenience in rotating the screw 43, the periphery of the crank disc i i preferably being formed with suitably spaced notches wherein a spring-backed detent'Afi seated in a boss 41 rising from the head 42 may engage to yieldably latch and position said disc and consequently the screw43 at that circuit 36, and arranged for the projection of, light rays through parallel plates 20 of the-column assembly for impingement upon-and energizationof a light-sensitive element 35 within the housing 5!, said latter housing preferably being provided with a mask 31 obstructing the upper portion ofits light aperture in like manner and for the same purpose as recited in connection with the housing 33 and hood 34. The element 35 of the housing 5| is connected in and for open- ,ing and closing of an electric circuit 53 which may connect for opposite actuation thereof with the same apparatus elements served by the circuit 36, or which may lead to andfor control of separate apparatus elements, as a specific adaptation of the control means may require. With the ar rangement just described, it is obvious that light emanations from the source within the housing may and will traverse the transparent column assembly to impinge on and energize the element 35 of the housing 5| so long as the liquid within the column is below that horizontalplane definedubylthe lower :margin of the mask 31 associated with the housing 5|, thus maintaining the circuit 53 closed relative to the apparatus served thereby, and that when pressure through the line 15 is sufiicient to raise the liquid column into obstructing relation between the light source and light-sensitive element of the housings 50 and 51, said light-sensitive element becomes deenergized verse, or arrest actuation of the elements served by said circuit. Due to the mounting of the carwhich energization or deenergizationl-zof .t he;;.ele ment-35 within thehousing 5| ;occursz;may be sembly, so. that alterationof thecondition obtaining .in the-circuit 53 may automatically be had .at that level corresponding with ;any ;-selected .prfissureithrough theline'l5'.

; -For convenience .in'adjusting-ithe carrier-assembly laltitudinally of the-column assembly; an indicator 54qis rigidly associated withsaidtoarrierassembly in closely overlying relationiwith :a scale or, gauge 55 mounted on one sidemargin-oi the standard 33, said scale or.-;gauge;being;calibrate'd andprovided with indicia relating;.in ,convenient form or termsto the variables which Since,1.in;certain installations, it -may;be;;ex-

pedientor desirable to modify the operation ;of

the apparatus controlled by thelinstant invention prior to a complete arresting or reversal of;the apparatus operation, the control means is, shown as i-provided with a supplementary pairpflhousings 56 and :53, enclosing,'respectively,;a, ;light source 28 and a light-sensitive el ement.35, ;i,dentical with the housings 50 and-5| ,respectively, and

carried in brackets 49 on the yoke orrloop-fiarin rrier; assembly on the feed gscrewi 43 :the plane at readily; adjusted altitudinally of the ,column as- ,produc'e'or are affected by the pressure: variations .actingthrough the line l5.

light-traversing alignment relativetothecolumn assembly perpendicular to and at ,-a level beneath that of the housings 50 and 5!, so that,,astheliquid is pressurediftedaltitudinally of the column it first -obstructs the light rays acting on the ;ele-

ment of the housing v5'! for modificationofapparatus functioning throughtheoircuit 58 conntrolledby said element, and later obstructs the light path to the element; 35 of the housing, 5 I

To limit travel of 'the'carrier assembly 4| to its operative range altitudinally of the 'columnassembly, suitablestops 53 and 60 may befixedto the base H) and head 42,'respectiv ely,- for. limit- .ing engagement against opposite sides of said carrier. Further, the carrier assemblymay be provided withla fixed pin 6i directlyandvcontinuously linked with suitable constantrecordingapparatus in such manner as to constaritlymegister on-the recording apparatus the relative position .of the carrier assembly altitudinally of the 'column assembly, thus providing a record of the maximum pressures with which the control;

means has been variously adjusted to function.- g In the practical use of the control meansillustrated and described, the liquid column .of the improvementv may be balanced against heads of liquid, boiler pressures, I gas receiver pressures,

compressors, and the like, as is common and well 1 known practice, and operatively loonnectedrwith' suitable apparatus for actuation and control of the latter through the electrical circuits of j the improvement at and between specific pressure limitsas determined by the settingvof the apparatus, the improved control means being fully installation wherewith, electricalactuating. means may function.

Sincelmany changes, variations and modifications in the specific form,construction and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had Without departing from the spirit-of the invention, and may in fact be desirable'or necessary in adapting the invention for use with specific apparatus and installations, I wish to be of the appended claims rather than by. any deautomatic in operation and susceptible of; ready adaptation for the control of anyapparatusor understood as being limited'solely by the scope tails of the illustrative showing and foregoing description. I

I claim as my invention- 1. Pressure-responsive control means comprising a pressure chamber charged with a supply of liquid, a pressure line operatively communicating between a source of pressure variations and the portion of said chamber above the level of liquid therein, a hollow, transparent standard having a passage of cross-sectional area much less than that of the chamber interior vertically disposed adjacent said chamber, a flexible conduit communicating between the lower portion of said chamber and the base of said standard for free flow of liquid therebetween, whereby pressures acting on the liquid in said chamber are productive of altitudinal variations in the liquid column in said standard proportional to said pressures and greater than the corresponding liquidlevel variations in said chamber, a control circuit fixedly associated with said standard for actuation by the liquid column therein at a predetermined lower limit of its range of altitudinal variation, means for varying and adjusting the altitudinal position of said chamber to bring the liquid level in said standard to said predetermined lower limit at atmospheric pressure, and a second control circuit manually adjustable altitudinally of said standard for actuation by said liquid column at an upper limit of its range of altitudinal variation.

2. Pressure-responsive control means comprising a pressure chamber charged with a supply of liquid, a pressure line operatively communicating between a source of pressure variations and the portion of said chamber above the level of liquid therein, a hollow, transparent standard having a passage of cross-sectional area much less than that of the chamber interior vertically disposed adjacent the chamber, a flexible conduit communicating between the lower portion of said chamber and the base of said standard for free flow of liquid therebetween, whereby pressures acting on the liquid in said chamber are productive of altitudinal variations in the liquid column in said standard proportional to said pressures and greater than the corresponding liquid level variations insaid chamber, a light source and a light-sensitive element fixedly disposed on opposite sides of said standard and cooperable to form a control circuit disposed for actuation by the liquid column in said standard at a predetermined lower limit of its range of altitudinal variation, means for varying and adjusting the altitudinal position of said chamber to bring the liquid level in said standard to said predetermined lower limit at atmospheric pressure, a carrier surrounding and manually adjustable altitudinally of said standard, and a second control circuit fixed to said carrier for actuation by said liquid column in the upper reaches of its range of altitudinal variation.

3. Pressure-responsive control means compris- .ing a pressure chamber charged with a supply of liquid, a pressure line operatively communicating between a source of pressure variations and the portion of said chamber above the level of liquid therein, a hollow, transparent standard ..having a passage of cross-sectional area much less than that of the chamber interior vertically disposed adjacent the chamber, a flexible conduit communicating between the lower portion of said chamber and the base of said standard for free flow of liquid therebetween, whereby pressures acting on the liquid in said chamber are productive of altitudinal variations in the liquid column in said standard proportional to said pressures and greater than the corresponding liquid level Variations in said chamber, a light source and a light-sensitive element fixedly disposed on opposite sides of said standard and cooperable to form a control circuit disposed for actuation by the liquid column in said standard at a predetermined lower limit of its range of,

altitudinal variation, means for varying and adjusting the altitudinal position of said chamber to bring the liquid level in said standard to said predetermined lower limit at atmospheric pressure, a carrier surrounding and manually adjustable altitudinally of said standard, and a pair of angularly-related, independent, control circuits fixed to said carrier in altitudinally-spaced relation for closely successive actuation by said liquid column in the upper reaches of its range of altiat atmospheric pressure, a pressure line opera-- tively communicating between a. source of pressure variations and the portion of said chamber above the level of liquid therein, whereby pressures acting through'said line on the liquid in said chamber are productive of altitudinal variations in the liquid column of said standard proportional to said pressures and greater than the corresponding liquid-level variations in said chamber, a light source and a light-sensitive element fixed on opposite sides of said standard and cooperable to establish a control circuit at the predetermined lower limit of liquid column variation and actuatable by said liquid column, and a pair of similar control circuits fixed in altitudinally-spaced, perpendicular relation for simultaneous adjustment altitudinally of said standard and successively actuatable by said liquid column in the upper reaches of its range of altitudinal variation.

ALBERT L. COOPER. 

